porter



Oct. 5 192 6.

I 502,205 W. K. PORTER 1 MILK BOTTLE CONTAINER .Filed June 10, 1925 2 Shets-Sheet 1 "at, s b 12%.- 1,602,

W. K. PORTER- MILKBOTTLE CONTAINER Filed June 10, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 l l l 1 Patented Oct. 5, 1926.

attics.

MILK-BOTTLE CONTAINER.

Application filed. June 10, 1925. Serial No. 36,194.

This invention relates to a milk bottle container, and particularly to a construction having an adjustable arrangement of the compartments therein to accommodate articles of different sizes or heights.

In order to prevent'the theft of bottles containing milk or other dairy products delivered at a time before the consumer is ready to receive the same, and also to prevent possible contamination-by the licking of the bottles by stray animals, it has been found important to provide a container in which the bottles may be looked after delivery.

In prior constructions of this character the compartments are generally of a fixed size or area which frequently prevents the utilization of the full space within the container and does not provide separate compartments for the several articles, particularly if other products than milk are to be delivered. Further in providing for the automatic locking of the door of the container after an articlehas been placed therein the latch has previously beenocontrolled by the weight of the articleor movement of a part ofthe container, which often results in uncertainty in the action of the locking device as such weight may vary in the case of dif' ferent articles delivered.

To overcome these objections. I have provided a container having pivoted shelves adapted to vary the'capacity of one or more compartments by dividing them into separate compartments in which the shelves support the articles placed therein. I have further provided a lock or latch for the door adapted tobe normally freely actuated by a handle whenthe container is empty and to be positively shift-ed out of operative relation with the handle and into position for operation by a key through direct engage ment with an article placed within the container.

. It has also been found that certain foods such as milk and dairy products are seriously affected by extremes of temperature when the container is exposed to the normal temperature and to thus protect the contents a heat insulating filler is disposed between an inner and outer shell which'will prevent freezing in winter and thedeleterious effect of heat in summer resulting in the soaring cf milk, or softening of butter.

The invention has for an object to provide a novel and improved construction of contaln'er comprising an outer casing and an inner casing formed with compartments between which a non-conducting filler is inserted, and comprises a separate body c0nformed to fit the space between the inner and outer casing.

A further object of the invention is to provide a novel construction of the inner cas ng having a vertical partition upon which a shelf is pivotally mounted and adapted to be swung from a horizontal to a vertical plane in. order to vary the capacity of the compartments with which it is associated.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved form of locking mecha nism involving an oscillatory bolt member having a detent adapted to be normally on gaged by a member operated by the handle and also a trip member extending at an angle to the .bolt for engagement with an article within the container to oscillate the bolt into position for bringing a second detent into operative relation with the key for actuating the bolt.

Other and further objects and advantages of the invention will be hereinafter set forth and the novel features thereof defined by the appended claims.

In the drawing Figure 1 is an elevation of the container;

Figure 2 is a similar view showing a different arrangement of the compartments;

Figure 3 is a detail perspective of the outer casing;

Figure 4: is a similar view of the non-conducting filler;

Figure 5 is a like view of'the inner partitioned casing;

Figure 6 is an elevation of the lock;

Figure 7 is an end view thereof;

Figure 8 is a section on line 88 of Figure 6;

Figure 9 is a section on line 9-9 of the same figure; and

Figure 10 is a section on line 1010 of Figure 6.

Like numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the several figures of the drawing.

The container may be formed of any desired size or configuration depending upon.

the number of articles which it is desired to ordinarily dispose therein 'andforthe purpose of illustration is herein shown as comprising an outer casing or frame 10 of.

rectangular shape. which: is provided- With supports 11 at its base, adapted to be attached to any desired structure; lfdesired:

the container may be'supported by other means than the legs ll' at its base; This outer frame is provided Witha door or closure having a beveled edge'l3 to form a tight. joint-i with i the casing and pivotally supported thereon by meansof' hinges 14.

lVithi n the outer ca sing the insulatedfiller 15 is disposed and this comprises arectangulai body conformed 'to theshape of the container and provided at one side With recesses 16 for the hinges 14 and at tlieoppositesid'e: With a similar recess 17 'for-recep- 'tion ofthe lock-keeper 1'8;

Within:thenon3conductingfiller I dispos the innercasingvl9-which is provided at its frontedge with: an apertured flange 20 for attachment to the casing l0 and at? one edge this: flange is-cut away at 21 to receive the hinge members 1 1 and at its opposite edge a similar pOrtionQQ-fisprovidted for the lock keeper, Centrallywithin the inner casing 19a vertical p'artition'23 is provided having at; its upper portion a fixed horizontal shell 24twhich provides a compartment 25 at the upper portion of the container adapted to receive articles such: as butter, cheese or other dairy: products.

The portion beneath the shelf 24: forms a container 26 adapted to receive a milk bottle of normal size, While at the opposite side of this partition a lower compartment 27 is formed This compartment is adapted to besub-divided by means of a: shelf 28 pivoted at 29 to the partition and-resting upon a stop 30 at the outer wall of the container, such arrangement being shown in Figure 1 as adapted-for thereception of two bottles of smaller size" If it-be de'sired'to dispose 1 two larger bottles in the vcompart'mer'its this in contact Withia detentl 37i'at' the: inner end of the locking bolt 38. This bolt is-mountecl toslide upon; the. plate 39 by'me'ans of the lateral apertured: extensions 40 and 4: 1" therefrom. The bolt is threaded into the lock head 12 and capable of an oscillatory movements This. movementaisimparted to the bolt by means of an ang ilarly' disposed arm 43 secured at the end a l of the bolt and pro vided w-ith the cont-act finger 45 adapted to engage a bottle or other article Within the casingwhen the door is closed and thus oscillate the bolt from its position shown in Figure-6 to disconnect the handle lug, as shown by dotted lines in Figure'l.

In such movement a further defiant/[46 v upon the bolt isbrought intoyposition to be actu'atedfby a key 47 for Withdrawing the ported in any desired manner, for instance by means of-"a bearing 48 'forme'd from the plate 39'Wl1l0l1- is alsobent at 49fto -form a stop for-the retracting movement of the; bolt when restored into operative re-lation: With the handle lug. This retractingmovement is-effec'ted by means of a spring 50 surround ing the bolt and performing the double f'unc tion-of projecting the bolt and also restoring I it after oscillation. The spring has its: end 51' passed through an aperture in the bolt for connection thereto and its opposite end 52 suit'ably' secured to t'he pl'ate 39'. r V

With the construction shownit will be'vseen that the compartments of, tlie container may be adjusted in capacit'y or 'area by meansof I the pivoted shel ves therein, While the content-s bei-ng of *a perishable nature are protected against extremes of tempera-tune by means of thenon-conducting filler which: is

inserted as a unit between the inner and outer casings. The loclrmechanisnr also pro videsfor its free operation by the handie When" the CGDJCHJHIGIL 1S empty-and for its disconnection from the handle when the door is closed and the arm thereon contacts With an article Within the container; lV-hen in such hifted position the locl'r can only'be operated by the, key butas soon as the door is reopened the parts are automatically restored by the lock spring.

The invention thus presents asimple, efii cient, and: economically manufactured form of container adapted to be automatically locked on the-closingof thedoor when a compartment thereof has received an article to: engagethe l'oclr operating means. l I

lt hile' the specific construction oftheseveral partshas-been shown anddescribed the invention is not confined thereto as changes and alterations: may be made Withoutdeparting from: the spirit offithelinyentionr as defined by the following claims; 1

Having thus described invention, What [1 claim as new and. desire to se'cureby Letters Patent is: r s

1 In acontainer, casing provi'dedrwiith a. vertical partition forming separate conipartments and a shelf movably connected at one side of said partition to" swingffrom a vertical to a horizontal position and subto engage a stop upon a parallel Wall of the casing and provide a. compartment above said partition.

3. In a container, a casing provided With a vertical partition, a fixed horizontal partition at the top thereof, a shelf pivoted to said horizontal partition to form a continuation thereof, and a shelf pivoted to the vertical partition to engage an opposite Wall of the casing.

at. In a container, a casing adapted to receive an article, a pivoted closure, a lock device having separate operating faces to be selectively actuated by a handle or key, said device being disconnected from the key and operable by the handle When the compartment is empty, and means upon said device disposed to directly engage an article in the casing and shift the device to disconnect the handle While connecting the key to operate the lock.

5. In a container, a casing adapted to receive an article, a pivoted closure, a lock device having separate operating faces'to be selectively actuated by a handle or key, said device being disconnected from the key and operable by the handle When the compartment is empty, means upon said device disposed to directly engage an article in the casing and shift the device to disconnect the handle While connecting the key to operate the lock, and means to automatically restore the lock device into cooperative relation with the handle.

6. In a container, a casing adapted to receive an article, a pivoted closure, a lock mounted thereon and comprising a reciproto engage the other face, and an arm from said bolt for oscillating the same.

7. In a container, a casing adapted to receive an article, a pivoted closure, a lock mounted thereon and comprising a reciproeating oscillating bolt having operating faces disposed at an angle to each other, a handle having alug engaging one of said faces, a support fora key to permit the same to engage the other face, an arm from said bolt for oscillating the same, and a contact head on said arm adapted to engage an article Within the container When the door is closed.

8. In a container, a casing adapted to receive an article, a pivoted closure, a lock mounted thereon and comprising a reciproeating oscillating bolt having operating faces disposed at an angle to each other, a handle having a. lug engaging one of said faces, a support for a key to permit the same to engage the other face, an arm from said bolt for oscillating the same, and a spring connected to said bolt and a fixed point for projecting the bolt and also ten- .sioning an operating face thereon into alinement With the handle lug.

9. In a container, a casing adapted to receive an article, a. pivoted closure, a plate mounted thereon, a bolt pivoted upon said plate and provided With detents disposed at an angle to each other, a handle member provided With a lug disposed to normally engage one of said detents, and an arm projected at an angle from said bolt and adapted to shift the same to disconnect the detent from said lug and present the other detent into position for operation by a key.

In testimony Whereof I aifiX my signature.

WILLIAM K. PORTER. 

